The Minnesota Vikings, so far 8-0 this season at home, do seem to be playing very well in the Metrodome. But the team's lease expires soon and they don't want to stay at the dome. It's noisy inside (yup) and it's ugly (uh huh) and it lacks many of the amenities of most other major stadiums.
The Vikings, who seem to have fallen out with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the dome's owners, weren't present at the unveiling of a $870 million replacement stadium for the Metrodome's site, and instead are considering other locations in suburban Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Arden Hills, or perhaps Bloomington. Wherever the new stadium is built, the Vikings are asking Minnesota's taxpayers to help with around a third of the cost. Potentially the money could come from a sales tax increase, similar to the 0.15% increase Hennepin County used to fund half the cost of the new Minnesota Twins stadium. Another hike to fund a replacement football stadium in Minneapolis is unlikely to go down well with Hennepin County residents.
Governor Tim Pawlenty has said that he won't spend public money on a new stadium, but he'll be out of office come January 2011. So what if the issue is still unresolved by then?
A recent survey of Minnesota taxpayers returned a resounding no on the question of public money being used for a new football stadium - 65% are opposed, outnumbering the 31% who are in favor by two-to-one.
So the Vikings may be faced with the choice to seek a new home outside Minnesota, or hope that the next governor is also a crazed football fan, or suck it up and stay put in the Metrodome at least for a few more seasons. What do you think? And are you in favor of spending your tax dollars on a new stadium?
The Metrodome: yes, it's grey and ugly and I know it's an old photo. Taking that one hurt my lens and I don't want to put my camera through that again. Photo Clara James
Comments
Wow…um…870 billion dollars? And jerry jones only cost 1.3 billion dollars!
Editing is key…
No, it’s billion. It has the functionality to launch into space if the Vikings win the Superbowl and a top secret but vital part in the Iraq mission. Sssh, it’s just us and the CIA that know about it.
Thanks for the correction…
I run a business in Mpls., and collect sales tax. You know….the tax the dome was paid for with. But wait…it’s still being collected. I am old enough to remember when the temporary sales tax began. “Just until we were out of trouble then it would go away.” Well that is one of the many reasons that the public feels that politicians are corrupt & not trustworthy. The billionaire owners & millionaire players with the Vikings should go someplace else to collect there welfare checks.
I empathize with the Businesses in Mpls. Because of the Twins stadium I will not purchase good in HC. Too bad.
Just build the stadium and get it over with. The
Vikings bring in money to the area and letting them go way is foolish.
If we decide to sock the taxpayers for the stadium, I think this time there ought to be a sales tax levied only on the counties outside of the seven county metro area. We’re constanlty assured that we in Hennepin County are all GLAD to pay to keep the Twinks here. Let’s spread that good feeling around to all of the other people in the state. Mustn’t be piggy you know. Then they call pat themselves on the back as they remind themselves that we’re still a “Big League” state. (You know, if we don’t pay up some other state will!)
What are you people talking about? It’s 870 million, NOT billion.
If someone doesn’t build the Vikings a stadium, they will move out of Minnesota…probably to LA, they already have the stadium and are looking for a team. If not there name one state that wouldn’t want a Super Bowl contender…except Minnesota.
Then see how your rich businessmen will be whining because Minneapolis is dying, baseball, basketball, etc. is NOT going to carry them.
i AM A DIEHARD VIKINGS FAN, THEY FINALLY GOT FAVRE AND IF THEY GO TO SUPER BOWL AND WIN IT AND WHY NOT SUPPORT THE VIKINGS FOOTBALL BY MAKING A DONATION OR HAVE FUNDRAISE DRIVE TAKEN PLACE AT THE METRODOME. i WOULD LIKE METRODOME BOMBED AND TAKEN DOWN AND STAY THERE SAME SPOT AND BUILD A MUCH BETTER DOME AND KEEP THE NOISE SAME BEC WE ARE HOME TEAM AND WIN AT HOME ALL WAY…
if no build dome or it has to go, i know Favre will retire..build new stadium and have Favre run other year or two while still working on stadium issues and who pays etc………….GO GO GO Vikings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, I want a new car and new house. I think other Minnesotans should pay for both of them.
We already have a football stadium for the Vikings. We even built one for the Goophers. Maybe the 4 time loosing Superbowl contenders could share the Gopher stadiumso. What a crock of **** to say they can’t make money in the dome. Sounds like poor management to me. If you don’t like it, leave. The sooner the better. See you on L.A.
it’s clearly a waste of money; if the Vikings actually brought money into our community, they wouldn’t have to be beg the community for additional funds.
it’s much more important to invest in health care, etc…
Moreover, if Obama took funds away from our militants– and sent the pentagon packing, everything would be possible! i.e. since americans are being asked to cut back because of the wars, the vikings should be patriotic and live with what they have.
Until we fully fund K-12 education for all children in our “nice” state, we should not be spending money on a new stadium. I understand the Vikings bring a great deal of revenue to our state, but an educated populace is much more important in the long run. Renegotiate the terms for the one we already have.